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Chittagong, Bangladesh: Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) James Lynch met Food and Disaster Management Minister Dr M Abdur Razzak where discussed Rohingya refugees’ repatriation at his office on May 27, according to an official.

Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) James Lynch with others visiting the refugee camp

A meeting has been convened in Bangkok followed by a conference in Bali, Indonesia to decide on the method of refugee repatriation where Bangladesh can play raise its voice regarding repatriation of the Rohingya refugees, James, the Regional Representative of UNHCR.

“The Rohingya refugee issues are continuing with the Burma government to repatriate about 25,000 registered Rohingyas from Bangladesh.”

“The Burma government did not discuss the issue in the past. But now the situation has improved much and it is paying heed to the problem,” James said.

The Food and Disaster Management Minister underscored the need for finding out the root cause of the migration of the refugees to effectively deal with the refugee problem.

Regional Representative of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) James Lynch is tlaking with camp officials

Bangladesh -being a poor country- has been giving shelter and assistance to the Rohingyas for the last 20 years on humanitarian consideration, the minister said

The Food Minister further said the Rohingya refugee problem is no longer a problem of Bangladesh only. “It has turned into an international issue.”

Disaster Management and Relief Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam said step will be taken to organize an international dialogue in Cox’s Bazar to discuss the overall situation of Northern Arakan State of Burma on humanitarian ground.

On May 26, at around 9:00 am, Regional Representative of the UNHCR accompanied by camp-in-charge and office staff visited the Nayapara refugee camp and observed the situation of the camp. The representative also visited the water reserve dam which supplied water to the refugees, a refugee said from the camp.

“Rohingya refugees tried to submit some applications regarding the refugee problem, but refugee fail to submit their application for staying in the camp shortly.”

“We will back to our motherland, if the concerned authority give guarantee our demands, such as to recognize as citizens of Burma with Rohingya ethnicity by the UN-recognized democratic government of Burma, to have equal rights like other ethnic groups in Burma , to provide compensations and to return of confiscated lands and other properties, to stop human rights violations and racial discrimination, especially against the Rohingya community,” said an elder from the camp while Kaladan Press contact to the refugee about their repatriations issues.

“If our demands are accepted and fulfilled by the Burmese authority. We don’t want to stay in the small sheds with bad condition anymore. How long are we living in Bangladesh in such condition?” the refugee elder said.